Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 May 2018
156. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will report on the progress of the Atlantic Economic Corridor, the work of the task force and the support his Department is providing for this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18943/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both contain a commitment to progress the concept of an Atlantic Economic Corridor.
The overarching objective of the Atlantic Economic Corridor proposal is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and connect the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for those who live there.
The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce was established in March 2017 to progress the proposal. Minister of State Seán Kyne chairs the Taskforce, which includes senior representatives from the business sector, key Government Departments, other public bodies, and Third Level institutions.
The Taskforce has met five times since it was established, most recently in Limerick on 12th March 2018, and it will continue to meet on a regular basis. A number of sub-groups of the Taskforce have also been established to progress specific aspects of the overall proposal, such as examining infrastructure needs and enterprise property assets, and developing a communications strategy so that the objectives of the initiative are widely understood.
My Department provides the Secretariat to the Taskforce and the sub-groups and is represented on these groups at senior level. My Department is also providing funding to the ten Local Authorities along the Atlantic Economic Corridor to support the designation of an Atlantic Economic Corridor Officer in each Authority. These Officers, who will be co-funded by the Local Authorities, will work to further develop the Atlantic Economic Corridor concept and support the work of the Taskforce and its sub-groups.
Based on the progress which has been achieved to date, the Atlantic Economic Corridor has been recognised in the National Planning Framework as a potential key enabler to the regional growth objectives of the NPF.
